Inner Space Caverns

“prehistoric cave with Ice-Age skeletons”

Inner Space Cavern is a karst cave located in Georgetown, Texas. The cave was discovered by the Texas Highway Department in 1963 during the construction of Interstate 35. There were several large openings to the caverns during the Ice Age, and several skeletons of prehistoric Ice-Age animals have been found in the caverns; many were trapped in the cave after they fell through the opening, unable to escape, and others drowned in thick, quicksand-like mud at the bottom of watering holes. Some filled-in sinkholes have been found, including the prehistoric entrance to the caverns. Several miles of cave passage have been surveyed, with many sections of the cave remaining unexplored, due to filled-in areas blocking passage.
The caverns were carved by water passing through Edwards limestone. The caverns are estimated to be 90–100 million years old but were only open to the surface since the late Pleistocene period 20,000–45,000 years ago, evidenced by finds of mammoth and saber-toothed cat bones. All natural entrances closed approximately 14,000 years ago.
The cave was opened to the public in 1966. Three different levels of tours are available, ranging from a basic guided tour to guided spelunking, with over 1.2 miles of passage being open to the public. However, non-public passages are well-guarded and independent exploration is not allowed. Apart from the main entrance, which was created by dynamite blasts, one of the original 18-inch diameter drilled holes serves as an emergency entryway/exit and a means for ventilating the cave.

Are you a fan of the 'Ice Age' movie and its characters ? Then visiting the Inner Space Caverns will prove to be a great visit for you.

Situated close to Georgetown, Texas is a place that anyone driving on this route should visit. Great formations of stalactites and stalagmites await you and beautiful colors that characterize the rock formations create a rather magical atmosphere. Visiting the Inner Space Cavers is also a great opportunity to cool off during the hot summer days.

It is a place suitable for families, but you rather be kind of athletic, since there are parts that need a little bit of strong stamina and flexibility. There are many different levels of tours, with the shortest ones being suitable for children, too. A great opportunity for them to visit a real monument of natural beauty. For those who are a little bit more adventurous there are tours that go deepen into the cave system. At all times, there is a properly qualified guide who is there to provide you with some interesting information about the history of these caves, as well as what was found there.

The only negative thing is that handicap access is limited, due to the fact that most of the tours last roughly 90 minutes and there are parts that you need to be flexible. Be aware that you are not allowed to wonder around unattended and food, drinks and even chewing gums are prohibited, because the eco-system there is very sensitive!

Great little stop with the kiddos. I have kids from 18 years old to 7 and they all loved it. It took about an hour and gave us something new to talk about for the last half of our trip. Lots of people there but only waited 15 minuets for the next tour.

The caverns were nice and were easy to drive to. We did the hidden cavern tours but next time we would do the beginners tour because it lights the different formations better. It was a nice tour overall!

We just moved to the Dallas area from Oregon and made a weekend trip down to the Austin area. We visited Inner Space Caverns with friends and their kiddos and enjoyed it very much! It seemed maybe a little spendy, but we didn't regret going!

Love this cavern! We are lucky enough to live nearby and have been numerous times, even for children's birthday parties! The normal tour is easy, it does include a slow incline, but it was no problem and I use a cane. The cave is a constant 70 degrees which makes it a perfect getaway during the impossible heat of August in Texas. There are several other tours that are more adventurous and usually leave hourly if as many as 3 people sign up (check the website). All of the employees are courteous and knowledgeable and the location is kept very clean.